Radio-clock-lamp combination



Jan. 20, i953 B. B. GILMORE 2,625,327

RADIO-CLOCK-LAMP COMBINATION Filed Aug. l, 1950 Tf1-l- 2 SHEETS- SHEET i B. B. GILMORE RADIO-CLOCK-LAMP COMBINATION lJem. 20, 1953 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Aug. l, 1950 .mgl

,N @swg INVENTOR a/aie 621mm BY- Ww @QM Mm ATTORNEYS mw @NN uw um MN H Patented `an. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIO-CLOCK-LAMP COMBINATION Burdette B. Gilmore, Pelham Manor, N. Y.

Application August 1, 1950, Serial No. 176,950

(Cl. G-36) 5 Claims.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a radio-clock-lamp combination that may readily be incorporated in a single unit which is neat, compact and devoid of any unsightly wiring, which unit has but few parts that may readily be assembled and are not likely to become deranged, the controls of the radio portion of the unit being readily accessible for tuning or controlling the volume from a plurality of sides thereof and the clock portion of the unit indicating the time also on a plurality of sides of said unit.

According to one aspect of the invention, the unit comprises a hollow, preferably elongated casing in which the radio, the clock and the lamp are all contained, preferably in superposed relation, with the lamp portion desirably being located at the top of the casing. The radio desirably is controlled by a plurality of dials and the dial which controls the tuning of the radio is desirably arranged so that one-quarter revolution thereof will rotate the tuning condenser of the radio through a complete cycle. Desirably the dial is exposed at four positions with respect to the casing and carries four sets of station indicators thereon so that the radio may be tuned from any side of the casing. The clock portion of the unit desirably comprises a clock motor which rotates a drum having an annular face extending parallel to the wall of the casing. The annular face of the drum is desirably exposed through a plurality of apertures in said Wall; and the face has a plurality of sets of dial markings thereon, visible respectively, through each of said apertures.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the unit with parts broken away,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal detail view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the clock mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 taken along line 'I-'I of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of the unit.

Referring now to the drawings, the unit desirably comprises an elongated hollow casing II of any suitable material such as plastic, and preferably having a plurality of supporting feet I2, which desirably are molded integral with the casing and serve to support the latter in upright position.

The wall I3 of the casing desirably has a plurality of grills I4 therein to provide access for the sound from the loud-speaker I5 of the radio receiver I6, positioned in the casing and sup` ported therein in any suitable manner. As any conventional receiver may be used, the construction thereof will only be described to the extent necessary for a clear understanding of the invention.

The receiver I6 desirably has two vertical shafts II and I8, which control the volume and the tuning capacitor of the radio, respectively. Although shafts I'I and I8 could be mounted in any suitable manner, they are illustratively shown as being transversely displaced from each other and means are desirably provided to rotate shafts II and I3 from any side of the casing II.

To this end, as shown in Fig. 4, the lower portion of the casing II desirably has an annular,

upstanding flange 2I therein desirably cast integral therewith. Securely mounted on the top surface of flange 2l is a plate 22, which supports the control mechanism for the shafts I'I and I8.

As shown in Fig. 4, the plate 22 has an axial bearing sleeve 23 rigid therewith through which extends the volume control drive shaft 24. Afxed on the upper end of drive shaft 24, which extends through plate 22, is a gear 25 spaced from the plate 22 by a washer 26, said gear 25 meshing with a pinion 21 axed to volume control shaft I8. The ratio of gear 25 to pinion 21 is desirably such that onehalf of a revolution of the shaft 24 will turn the volume control shaft IB one revolution.

In order to rotate shaft 24, a horizontal control dial 28 is desirably afxed to the lower end thereof. The shaft 24 is of such length that it extends below annular flange 2l and peripheral portions of the horizontal control dial 28 are exposed between adjacent pairs of feet I2. The diameter of the dial 28 is such that the periphery thereof will extend outwardly of such feet as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Thus, the dial 28 is readily accessible for rotation from any of the four sides of the casing.

Encompassing bearing sleeve 23 is a second bearing sleeve 3|, which desirably has a flange 32 at the lower end thereof seated on a nut 33, encompassing shaft 24 and threaded on the end of sleeve 23 abutting against the shoulder 23 thereof, said nut being spaced from the top surface of dial 23. The upper end of sleeve 3| which lies below plate 22, being spaced therefrom by a washer 34, has a gear 35 aflixed thereon, which meshes with a pinion 36 ai'xed on the lower end of tuning shaft I1. The ratio of gear 35 to pinion 36 is desirably such that one-quarter revolution of the bearing sleeve 3I will rotate the capacitor (not shown) in the radio controlled thereby through a complete tuning cycle.

In order to rotate sleeve 3 I, a second horizontal control dial 31 is desirably aixed to the ange end thereof. Dial 31 is desirably the same size as dial 28, being spaced therefrom by the nut 33 so that the two dials may be rotated independently of each other. Thus, the perioheries of both dials 28 and 31 are readily accessible between adjacent portions of feet I2 for tuning the radio and controlling the volume thereof.

As it requires only one-quarter of a revolution of the dial 31 to rotate shaft I1 through a complete tuning cycle, the periphery of dial 31 is desirably provided with four sets of station selector markings. Each set of markings occupies 90 degrees of the dial, and wil1 be exposed, respectively, between each of the pairs of adjacent feet I2 on the four sides of the casing so that, for example, if the unit should be placed on a night table between two beds, the occupant of either bed may tune the radio, or the radio may be tuned from the front or the rear, if desired.

To mount the clock assembly which as shown in Figs. 4. and 5 is desirably positioned near the top of the casing, the latter desirably has an internal annular ledge 4 I, near the upper end thereof, which supports a base plate 42. A plurality of upright supports or posts 43 are desirably aflixed at their lower ends as at 44 to said base plate, said posts 43 carrying a second plate 45 extending parallel to base plate 42 and affixed to the upper ends of the posts. An additional plate 4B is provided mounted onv posts 43 interposed between plates 42 and 45 and carrying the clock motor 41.

As shown in Fig. 5, the clock motor 41, which is of conventional type, has a depending vertical arbor 48 which desirably extends through a bore I in an insulating block 52 aiixed in an opening 53 in plate 45, theend of said arbor also extending through an axial bearing opening 54 in base plate 42. Frictionally retained on arbor 48 between plates 42 and 46 is a split tube 55, which desirably has a laterally extending flange 56 at the lower end thereof which is rigidly afxedvto the circular floor 51 of a drum 58, said floor 51 being spaced from base plate 42 by means of a washer 6I encompassing said arbor 48. The drum 58 desirably has an upstanding face 62 on the periphery of the floor 51 which extends parallel to the inner surface of the Wall I3 of said casing I I and said wall desirably has a plurality of apertures 63 therethrough, preferably four in number, arranged in diametrically opposed pairs to permit viewing of the surface of the face 62 of the drum from any side of the casing.

As shown in Fig. 4, face B2 has a plurality of sets of time indicators thereon illustratively four in number, arranged in two horizontal rows, each desirably having two sets of numerals scaled from 1 to l2, and occupying 180 degrees of said face, said sets being associated respectively with said apertures 63, each of which has a pointer 60 to indicate the time.

Means are desirably associated with the clock motor 41 which, at a predetermined time, will close a circuit desirably to some electrical appliance which in the embodiment herein may be an alarm bell 65 positioned in the casing or the radio I6.

As shown in Fig. 5, such means desirably comprises a gear 65 encompassing an annular reduced portion 61 at the bottom of insulating block 52, said gear being rotatably mounted on said annular portion, with the periphery 68 of said gear desirably extending beyond the periphery 69 of said block.

To prevent Vertical displacement of said gear 66, an insulating washer 1l desirably encompasses said annular portion 61, said washer 1I and said gear 66 being retained in place by a contact plate 12 aflixed to the under surface of block 52 as by bolts 13.

To electrically connect gear t6 to contact plate 12, a contact arm 16, which is desirably a leaf spring, is affixed at one end as at 11, toA a pin 18 rigidly mounted on and depending from gear 66 adjacent the periphery 58 thereof. The free end of said leaf spring 13 is positioned so as to be resiliently urged against and to ride on the periphery 8l of a disc 82 of insulated material rigidly aixed to tube 55. The disc 82 is desirably slightly greater in diameter than the contact plate 12, thereby normally retaining the free end of the leaf spring spaced from the periphery of said contact plate. Desirably, the insulated disc 82 has a notch 53 in its periphery, of sufiicient depth so that when the free end of the spring 16 enters such notch in the manner here.

inafter to be described, such free end will engage the periphery of Contact plate 12, thereby to be electrically connected thereto, said leaf spring and said contact plate functioning as a switch.

In order to provide an electrical connection to the gear 63, a pin 81, slidably mounted in a bore 38 in. block 52 is resiliently urged against the face of gear 36 by a leaf spring 85 afxed at its free end as by screw 85 to block 52.

Means are desirably provided to rotate gear 66 so that the relative position of spring 16 with respect to the notch 83 may be changed to permit regulationof the time at which the spring13 will engage contact plate 12.

To this end, the gear 55 meshes with a pinion 9i aiixedat the end of shaft32 extending through vertically aligned bearing openings 83 in plates 45. and 55. The upper end of shaft 32 which extends above plate .45 has a pinion 34 affixed thereon which meshes with a gear rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 93 extending axially through piste it. shaft ce also, rotatably mounts ahorizontal knob S1 to which the gear 95 is aiiixed so that upon rotation of the knob, the gear. 95 will rotate therewith.

As shown in Figs.` 3, 4 and 5, the knob S1 is positioned in a @over l@ l, also desirably 0f plastic. which is afxed to the top of the casing I I. The cover lill desirably has a pair of diametrically opposed apertures IGZ therein through which the periphery of knOb al iS exposed as Shown in Fles. 2 and 3. The knob desirably has two sets of markings thereon each scaled from l to l2 and associated, respectively, with apertures IEB.

The lamp portion of the unit desirably cornprises a holder IE5 preferably formed integral with the cover Ill and having a conventional bulb socket Ice thereon. The 'socket I is desirably controlled by a switch IU1 also mounted on top of the cover IBI and connected in series with they socket and a source of current. To

complete the lamp -portion of the unit a shade is supported by the cover |6| preferably by means of a plurality of horizontal arms |08, aflixed at one end by screws |09 to the cover |6| and at their free ends to the shade as at H2.

Although the clock, the radio and the lamp could be connected in any suitable manner, the circuit shown in Fig, 8 is preferred.

In this circuit, one side of the lamp socket |06 is connected by lead H4 to main ||5 and the other side of the socket I |6 is connected through switch |01 to main ||1. The clock motor 41 is connected directly across mains ||5 and H1 by leads H8 and H9 and lead ||8 is connected to bolt 13 by nut 15 as shown in Fig. 5. Pin 81 is connected by lead |2| to one of the contacts |22 of switch |23 which is desirably mounted on top of the cover Contact |21 of switch |23 is connected by lead |28 to one side of the input of alarm bell 65, the other side of said input being connected by lead |29 to main ||5. One side of the input of the radio I6 is desirably connected to main l by lead 25 and the other side of the input of the radio is lconnected by lead |26 to contact |3| of switch |23. The circuit is completed by connecting Contact |32 of switch |23 to main H1.

To use the unit, which for example may be positioned on a table between two beds, it is merely necessary to connect the mains H5, H1 to a wall outlet or other convenient source of current. This will energize the clock motor 41 to rotate arbor 48 and drum 58 thereon. Thus as the two horizontal rows of time markings on the face 62 of drum 58 pass by the four apertures 63 in the walls of the casing, the pointer 60 associated with each of said apertures will indicate the time.

If the time setting is incorrect, it may readily be adjusted by merely rotating the drum 58 with the finger with respect to the arbor 48. Such rotation of the drum is possible by reason of the frictional grip of the split type tube 55 which mounts the drum, the frictional hold being sufcient for the arbor to drive the drum, yet permits independent movement of one with respect to the other.

If the user should desire that the alarm bell 65 ring at a pre-selected time, it is merely necessary to rotate the dial 91 to the selected time setting through either of the apertures |02 in cover lill. As a result of the transmission from such dial through gear 95, pinion 94, shaft 92, pinion 9| and gear 66, the latter will rotate to move the contact arm 16 along the periphery of insulating disc 82. Thus, as the latter rotates under the drive imparted thereto by clock motor 41 and arbor 48, the notch 83 will be brought into alignment with said contact arm 16 so that the latter may engage contact plate 12.

If the movable contact arm |33 of switch |23 is engaging contacts |22 and |21, the alarm bell will be energized, the circuit being from main H1, lead H8 through bolt 13 and contact plate 12, contact arm 16, gear 66, pin 81, resilient arm 86, and lead |2| to fixed contact |22 of selector switch |23, thence from fixed contact |21 and lead |28 to one side of the alarm bell and from the other side of the alarm bell through lead |29 to main H5.

After the alarm bell has been energized, it may readily be turned off by merely turning the switch |23 to the oli position in which movable contact |33 engages iixed contacts |3| and |32.

If the user should desire the radio I6 to turn on at a preselected time, he need merely set the switch |23 so that the movable contact arm |33 engages fixed contacts |22 and |3|. When contact arm 16 engages contact plate 12 a circuit will be completed to the radio |6. Such circuit is from main H1, lead H8 through bolt 13 and contact plate 12, contact arm 16, gear 66, pin 81, resilient arm 86, and lead |2| to iixed contact |22 of selector switch |23, thence through movable contact arm |33, xed contact |3|, lead |26 to one side of the input of radio |6 and from the other side of the input through lead |25 to main H5.

As the contact arm 16 will engage contact plate 12 for some time, which may be in the order of one hour, the radio will operate for this period. If the user should desire the radio to operate independently of the clock control, he need merely turn the selector switch |23 to the 01T position in which movable contact arm |33 will connect lixed contacts |3| and |32 to complete the circuit to the radio.

As dials 28 and 31 are accessible from either of the four sides of the unit, it is apparent that the radio may be regulated from any side without need for turning the unit around.

With the construction thus described, a neat, compact, multi-purpose unit is provided which is is devoid of all unsightly wiring, requiring as it does, but a single extension cord for connection to a source of power. The unit may be used in any room of a house and is especially suited for use on a night table positioned between two beds in a bedroom, as it is readily accessible for operation of all of the components thereof by either of the occupants.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An article of the character described comprising an elongated hollow casing, a supporting plate in said casing lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of said casing, an insulating block mounted on said supporting plate, said block having an axial bore therethrough, a clock motor mounted on said plate having an arbor extending through said bore, a drum mounted on said arbor, said drum having an annular face extending parallel to the wall of said casing, a plurality of sets of time indicators on said face, said casing having apertures in the wall thereof, each of said apertures being associated respectively with one of said sets of time indicators, a gear rotatably mounted on said block, a contact plate mounted on said block coaxial with said gear, insulating means spacing said -contact plate from said gear, an insulated disk coaxial with said plate and rotatable with respect thereto by said motor, said disk having a diameter greater than that of said plate, and a contact arm carried by said gear, electrically connected thereto, and resiliently urged against the periphery of said disk, said disk having a notch in the periphery thereof, whereby when said disk is rotated to move said notch into alignment with said conta-ct arm, the latter will enter said notch and engage said Contact disk.

Y2'. Ther combination setr forth in claim 1 in which meansA areA provided to. rotate said gear thereby to changethe relative position of said contact arm with respect to the notch in said disk.

3. The combination set forth in claim l in which a second supporting plate is providedabove the first supporting plate and means are provided carried by said second supporting plate to rotate said gear thereby to change the position ofsaid contact arm with respect to the notch in said disk, said means comprising a Vertical shaft bearing in said plate and having a pinion aixed at each end thereof, the lowermost pinion meshing with said gear, a second gear rotatably mounted on said second supporting plate and meshing With said uppermost pinion andmeans to rotate said second gear.

4. An article of the character described comprising an elongated hollow casing, a Supporting plate in said casing lying in a plane atright angles to the axis of said casing, an insulating block mounted on said supporting plate, said block having an axial bore therethrough, a clock motor mounted on said plate having an arbor extending through said bore, a split sleeve encompassing said arbor and driven thereby, a drum mounted on said sleeve, said drum having an annular face .extending parallel to the wall of said casing, a, plurality of sets of time indications on said face, said casing having apertures in the wall thereof, each of said apertures being associated respectively with one of said sets of 'time indicators, said block having an annular portion at the lower end thereof, a gear rotatably mounted on said annular portion, a Contact plate mounted on the under surface or" said annular portion coaxial withsaidgear andfinsulated therefrom, an insulateddisk coaxial with said` plate axed to said sleeve-and rotatable therewith, said disk having a diameter greater than-thatof said contact plate whereby said disk is rotated by said motor tomove said notch into alignment with said contact arm, the latter will enter said notch andengage said contact plate, and a contact arm carried by said gear, electrically connected thereto and resiliently urged against the periphery of said disk and having a, notch in the periphery thereof extending inwardly of the periphery of said contact plate.y

5.- The. combination set forth in claim 4 in which a contact pin is slidablymounted in a bore in said block, with the lower end of said pin riding on the surface of said gear, and means are providedresiliently to retain said pin in said bore.

B. B. GILMORE.

REFERENCES CITED The Vfollowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 145,548 Valinski et al Apr.` 1, 1947 1,770,874 Brown Ju1y'l5, 1930 1,999,557 Bechler Apr. 30, 1935K 2,055,546 Luke Sept. 29, 1936 2,311,389 Gottlieb Feb. 16, 1943 2,444,392 Willens June 29, 1948 l FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 105,526 Switzerland July 1, 1924 

